Sorry guys, I know I've been terrible at updating the story lately, but life's been crazy.
Part of this chapter was written at the Amsterdam airport, waiting (12 hours) for my next connection flight which would bring me to Kenya. Yes, that's right, I was chasing after that mysterious dragon from Charlie's letter. LOL... I've spent lots of time with my kids and as the orphanage didn't have internet connection, I wasn't able to upload next chapter and after coming home I had head full of africa and then Christmas and...
I appologize for that, but I think you'll agree with me that when one wants to write magical stories, one has to live magical life.
After magical fireworks and cherry pie for desert, everyone said goodnight and left.
Mr. Lovegood had to carry sleeping Luna home, balancing her on his shoulder why elegantly maneuvering among little bushes of petunias which surrounded the tiny narrow path leading towards their home. Luna's mom was skipping behind them, almost dancing, just the way Luna did, when she walked.
Molly gave everyone big piece of pie to take home, what Remus gladly accepted after politely refusing her offer to stay for the night.
Molly was mother, and it was in her nature to care for everyone as if they were kids.
The sky was covered with stars and it was hard to fall asleep when you could see that beauty through the window next to your bed.
Jade was lying in bed, wide awake. She was tired alright, but had too many things to think about, to fall asleep right away.
After few hours of thinking and re-thinking everything, she said to herself that it will be for the best if she enjoyed her time with Weasleys as long as she could, and worry about being send away when it happens, because of that she was sure – they'll send her away eventually, just like everyone else, it was just a matter of time until she crossed some sort of line. And in it's own twisted way, it calmed her and brought her the peace she needed. The peace of being in control of her life and knowing what will happen.
With that, Jade fell asleep, just when the sun was rising over the horizon.
Waking up after long night full of delicious hot-dogs, roasted potatoes and fun, makes you feel even more hungry than usually. That's why Jade got up from bed and walked downstairs immediately, still wearing her PJs. But in the middle of the stairway she remembered her manners and turned around, racing upstairs again. Ron almost knocked her down when he – still in pajamas himself- run downstairs guided by the delicious smell of scrambled eggs and freshly baked bread.
Coming down for breakfast, three minutes later than everyone else, Jade literally threw herself down on her chair and shoveled food into her mouth.
It didn't slip her attention however, that Molly quickly stuffed some parchment in her apron, hiding it from everyone's view. It was a letter, Jade was sure about that, because she (just barely, but still) could see an owl flying on the horizon away from The Burrow.
Jade wasn't like an ordinary girl, she noticed details, little signs, different movements of hand, nervous glances and unwashed dishes in the sink. Something was going on and when Molly sent them out with backpack full of lunch sandwiches and a thermos of soup, suggesting Arthur could take them for a trip to climb the mountain, Jade was sure it was just to make get them out of the house.
The walk wasn't bad, path leading through the forest with little clearings and a couple of bridges over the river. Jade loved it, they didn't walk too fast so she had time to explore and even climbed a couple of trees, sneakers hanging around her neck, it felt good to have tree branches under her bare feet again.
Ron started to complain he was hungry but Arthur told him to hang in there for one more hour, so Jade was sure there had to be some precise destination ahead of them.
They climbed a couple of rocks, not too steep but high enough for the kids to feel like explorers.
There was an old bench on top of the mountain, long enough for four of them but they sat down on the grass and stretched their legs in front of them.
"Let's take a picture daddy!" suggested Ginny, suddenly remembering her father's camera.
"Alright, we need to get a proof we climbed the mountain right darling?" smiled Arthur and put the camera on the bench setting a self timer.
"Ok, get ready and smile!" yelled Arthur and ran down the hill to stand behind his children. Camera clicked once.
"Now, one more, and let's get a goofy one, everybody make some silly pose and face!" suggested Arthur.
"Daddy, daddy! Will you stand on your head!" requested Ron.
"Sure, if you want to buddy. Now, make some place for me in the middle" replied Arthur and pressed the button. He ran to the group of children and stood on his hands, while Ginny sat down between his hands and pressed an exaggerated kiss to his cheek.
Ron stayed true to his nature and with an empty paper bag from the sandwiches (now laying on the ground next to their backpack) made himself a pointy hat, while he pretended to sing into the thermos microphone.
Jade wasn't sure what to do at first, seeing everyone being so spontaneous took her by surprise. She was always told to smile and look in the camera, stand with her hands neatly by her sides and always brush her hair from her face.
Now she was standing here, in cut off jean shorts, green tank-top and wild short hair flying to every side of the world.
Just before the self-timer went off, she grabbed a handful of tiny yellow flowers growing on the field and threw them in the air, in time for the camera to catch her ballerina-like pose and a million of yellow petals in the air.
Arthur almost fell down the hill, he was laughing so hard. This was going to be the best photo from the trip.
They ate lunch (picking ants from their sandwiches – Ron apologized for leaving them on the floor but everyone agreed it was worth the photo), enjoying sunny day and fantastic view from the mountain top.
It was time to go home, the sun was high and Arthur didn't want to keep kids out during the worst time of the day when sun was right over their heads.
They skipped down the hill, it was much better, under the trees in the shade.
Trip was almost over, and Jade suddenly remembered why they left. She was afraid to go home, as much as she persuaded herself she won't be staying forever, she couldn't help but call it home here.
Molly didn't say anything, just commented on Ginny's sunburned nose and sent everyone upstairs to freshen up.
They spent the rest of the day outside, sitting in the hammock reading (and playing with Harry doll), while Molly was constantly bringing out jugs of fresh lemonade and apples from their garden. Adventurous Saturday was followed by uneventful Sunday because it rained since breakfast. It was nice change after a couple of hot days but kids found themselves terribly bored, being stuck inside all day.
Jade's eyes were starting to hurt from all the reading, Ginny was grumpy because her mom washed Harry yesterday night and He was still wet, because no one remembered him until Ginny asked where was her doll few hours after breakfast so poor Harry spent half day outside getting good long rainy shower.
Ginny wouldn't let her mom to magically dry him because Ron told her the doll would shrunk and even though it wasn't true, Ginny would start hysterically yelling whenever Molly approached her Harry with wand.
So between Jade's starting headache, wet Harry and Ron stuffing twentieth cookie to his mouth it was awful afternoon and everyone was happy the day's over when Molly sent them to bed early.
"Jade can you stay here for a while" Arthur stopped his newest daughter before she went upstairs to bed.
Molly was putting away last dishes from dinner, so Arthur gestured towards the table and Jade sat down.
That's it. I'm in trouble. She thought to herself.
"So…" Molly started, "Miss Jones sent me a letter yesterday, asking if it would be ok to come on Monday and I told her we'll be waiting for her in the morning. She used magic to get everything look legal for the Muggle social services, because it would take forever to approve us as suitable family for you if we did it the muggle way, but…"
Jade swallowed hard, there was always a but – we'd love to keep you but... it's not your fault but…we know you're awesome girl but…
"…but she had to register you in the database of … kids with magic who needed family, to make it legal for our Ministry of magic and…there are still some steps we need to take so you could stay here legally. So miss Jones will come tomorrow and it's possible she will want to talk to you. Don't worry, it won't take long, we have lots of paperwork to go over, but she has to interview you too, as you're considered to be an older child now. I just wanted to tell you, so you'd be ready." Finished Molly.
Jade just nodded and then excused herself after saying good night and went up to her room.
All she heard was that social worker is coming tomorrow to talk to her. She didn't like social workers talking to her because it always meant she was going to move soon.
Jade pretended to be asleep when Molly checked on her a couple of minutes later, but then she spent all night, staring on the sky outside her window. It stopped raining and clouds were gone when sun started to rise and the dreaded day came.
Unable to think, Jade got up and dressed herself, picking cleanest, nicest tee-shirt she could find and a pair of long cotton pants. After combing her hair and looking at herself in the bathroom mirror to make sure she looked presentable enough, she climbed down the stairs and sat down on her usual spot, silently eating her piece of fresh bread with salted butter.
Breakfast was over and Ron with Ginny were already putting on their wellies (grass was still wet outside) when someone knocked on the front door, and soon Miss Jones was standing next to Jade, smiling and thanking Molly for the cup of coffee.
Molly rushed everyone outside, leaving Jade alone in the kitchen with Miss Jones for a brief moment of awkward silence.
When she returned Miss Jones took a huge pile of papers from her briefcase and took the first one from top.
"Let's start, shall we?"